Knowledge Management in the Organizational Context

Knowledge management in the Organizational context deals with understanding how information evolves .To understand knowledge management., we need to understand what is knowledge?

What is Knowledge ?
Knowledge is the awareness of what one knows. It is the acquaintance with or understanding a subject. In other words, it is the information acquired through learning.It is the enriched information with insights in context and the dynamic-energy and change inherent in nature. Knowledge is constantly changing through experience and learning .It is a process intertwined with human activity and experience

The characteristic of knowledge is that it is dynamic and intangible. Knowledge comes exclusively from an intellectual activity. It is a sensory experience and physical activity which involves conversations and social exchanges and encompasses the entire consciousness.



What is Knowledge Management?
Knowledge itself cannot be managed.-The artifacts which represent knowledge are managed. Representation must reflect the action of knowledge acquisition. Artifact management involves the management of tacit(implicit) knowledge, explicit knowledge and personal knowledge. Without personal involvement, knowledge management has very little value. A big disadvantage is if the knowledge is incorrect or not used properly

Knowledge Management is Difficult owing to the emotions, which are intertwined with information seeking affect the ways in which we think and know. By separating the mind, body, and spirit in defining knowledge and recognizing only the intellectual dimension ignores essential aspects of human nature, presents a fractured picture of knowledge.
Although technology departments may have made many aspects of knowledge sharing possible, it is a mistake to equate Knowledge Management with a technology tool.

The organizational Context

Knowledge artifacts in Organizational Context can involve the following
• Designs
• Meeting minutes
• Records of conversations
• Handbooks/manuals/reports
• Audio/visual content
• Personal lessons learned


Knowledge Management in an organization is based on an understanding of knowledge creation and knowledge transfer. It needs to be understood that
A knowledge artifact (thing) is managed - not knowledge itself. Additionally,
knowledge stored must be current and up-to-date and knowledge managers must rely on human intelligence and energy and not just technology.

Dynamic knowledge creation occurs during socialization when internal (implict/tacit) knowledge is made external (explicit).Organizational knowledge-processes are in place to transform tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge, allowing others in the organization to use it for decision making. Tacit knowledge(internal)is implicit unspoken and hidden(personal), explicit knowledge(external)-explained,recorded, or documented.

Strategies to effectively implement knowledge management

Sharing of knowledge representation artifacts and this sharing must be mutual between employee and employer. Mutual trust needs to exist between employee and employer. Organizations can effectively manage knowledge by creating opportunities for knowledge representation. The knowledge stores should have a certain quality.Technology can be helpful to maintain this quality.

If information professionals and others truly see the value in active knowledge sharing and have the desire for knowledge exchange to be a lasting and meaningful way to work, then the management of knowledge will need to be as dynamic and process-oriented as knowledge itself.

If you need help with knowledge management in your business or organization, contact me at infocounselor@gmail.com

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Implicit /Tacit
Subconscious
 Perceived
 Unaware
 Difficult to articulate/unspoken
 Experience based
 Transferred through Conversation
 Embedded in stories/narratives
 Escapes Observation
 Held within self
 Personal
 Insights and understandings
 Judgments
 Assumptions

Explicit

 Formally articulated
 Elucidated
 Aware
 Fixed
 Codified
 Documented (written,taped,recorded, digitized etc)
 Stored in repositories (databases, files etc)
 Can be viewed or heard
 Shared with others
 Organizational
 Pushed or pulled
 Reports, lessons learnt